Manchester City 1-1 Sevilla (5-4 penalties): Nemanja Gudelj missed the decisive penalty as City won the UEFA Super Cup
Find your favorites in your Premium section Independent, my profile
Manchester City’s first trophy of the season in Athens
Manchester City ended their summer by moving from East Manchester to Eastern Europe and returning with continental trophies. They added the Super Cup to the Champions League, their fourth trophy of 2023, when Sevilla’s Nemanja Gudelj missed a penalty.
Erling Haaland, Julian Alvarez, Mateo Kovacic, Jack Grealish and Kyle Walker (the captain, a rare penalty taker, breathed a sigh of relief when his shot crashed under Bono) found their way into the net in a tense penalty shootout. Remarkable goalkeeper in the last 90 minutes, but neither Ederson nor Bono made a stop afterwards and when Gudelj’s shot was a fraction high, City’s celebrations began.
If Ederson was the one who played for an exhausted City, so was Cole Palmer, the youngster who is emerging with talent for big occasions. In two August finals, Palmer scored two perfect goals, one goal in the Community Shield and a draw in the Super Cup; Only Michael Owen had already achieved the double in either game in the same season. Each goal would probably have been a blow to clubs hoping to give Palmer away: he is pushing to get more involved at the Etihad Stadium. The striker of the final winner of the Champions League, Rodri, added a The Super Cup lends a hand with a deep center. Palmer sneaked to the second post to overcome the goal and, encouraged by his goal, looked for the winning goal with a shot from Bono Paré, which followed a daring retreat.
It is a demonstration that he can easily succeed Riyad Mahrez as a left winger and right striker. The Algerian tweeted approvingly about the young contender’s performance. However, it should be noted that City’s contingent of high-profile passers had been exhausted since the Champions League final. with Ilkay Gundogan heading to Barcelona, Bernardo Silva ill and Kevin De Bruyne injured, all absent. This would possibly have been reflected in a lack of creativity which, in turn, may also trigger some other offer for West Ham’s Lucas Paqueta.
And yet, City still had a chance to score a little more. But he was met with glorious resistance from the provocative Bono, who made a series of perfect saves, complemented by early and late saves from Nathan Ake, who perhaps scored on each and every header. City finished with 22 shots but, from their point of view, very few from Haaland, who has yet to score for them in the final.
Sevilla had ensured that the Super Cup was not an exclusively Mancunian affair, getting rid of Manchester United from the Europa League. Sevilla lost its influential director of football, Monchi, this summer and some players. They may simply keep going, but they retain a mentality that has made them formidable contenders on the European stage. The full of life Lucas Ocampos was excellent, at a time when the number nine of the harvest was beginning to look like an endangered species, Sevilla scored a goal. for a true centre forward.
Cole Palmer’s equalizer capped a performance of the youngster.
It was a header from Youssef En-Nesyri, who emerged above Ake to meet Marcos Acuña’s cross. However, he and Sevilla can lament their inability to score a moment as they escaped temporarily and menacingly. En-Nesyri scored a double opposite moment. Manchester in 2023 lacked two chances. Lucas Ocampos first released him on a counter-attack, but Ederson stopped his shot, then the Brazilian made another save.
It was a rocky start for Josko Gvardiol. La last appearance of the £77 million defender at the European club festival was a 7-0 defeat for Leipzig, against City. If it was less painful, City missed Ruben Dias and John Stones, who were alone on the bench after missing out on the win at Burnley.
However, for much of the match City attacked. Jose Luis Mendilibar was hired like Spaniard Tony Pulis, a veteran downhill firefighter who isn’t afraid to take direct tactics. Sevilla was content with not having the ball; Mendilibar is not bothered by the passing philosophy. While City held around three-quarters of possession, Sevilla were parked.
Through it all, the tension was revealed and history was written. Guardiola had won this trophy with Barcelona and Bayern Munich, the latter thanks to the triple feat of Jupp Heynckes. He became the first coach to win the Super Cup with three others. Clubs. His determination was evident: while in the Community Shield he had eliminated Haaland, in Athens he kept 10 of the starters for a full 90 minutes, replacing only Palmer, and 3 days before the clash with Newcastle. Still, winning the Champions League has brought other prizes, the chance to win more trophies, and City already have their first trophy of the season.
Join interesting conversations, other independent readers and see their answers.
Cole Palmer’s equalizer capped a performance of the youngster.
REUTERS
Manchester City’s first trophy of the season in Athens
fake images
Want to bookmark your favorite articles and stories to read or review later?Start your Premium Independent club today.